A Short Story From Freshmen Writing Class 2

Angry Plum
by Giselle Lee

Every pig knows one day when they grow up, they will be taken to a place called “pig paradise,” and the fatter one grows the faster that day comes, which was common sense and ideal to all the pigs at “Mourn Farm.” My job there was to feed the pigs and I guaranteed to do my best to fatten them into big pork balls, gathering leftovers, chopping rotten cabbage, mixing all these with rough grain and then pouring them into the trough. All pigs die for food, so were mine, of course, apart from Angry Plum.

Angry Plum had caught my peculiar attention, since he was born. His mother had thirteen piglets, he was the last one, the unlucky number, besides, unlike his brothers and sisters, he was almost black all over, except a white plum mark on his back, the shape of that plum was twisted like the angry face of a fire monster. That was how he got his name “Angry Plum.”

Compared to the other pigs at Morn Farm, Angry Plum was surely a bag of bones with four long legs and a shorter tail, twisted, making a perfect full-stop. That long and sensitive nose intent to search every delicate change in the surroundings. A pair of abnormal ears, unlike fans, but two alarm bells, energetically raising up like dogs’ ears when hearing any strange footsteps. Sesame is the exact word coming to mind when I try to figure out a thing to describe his eyes. Two shiny sesames were carved into the face to which most females would show no interest, sparkling with passion, longing and wisdom.

Every morning, as the routine, I opened the fence and started to clean up their half-out house, all pigs rushed back to the corner away from me, but only Angry Plum kept tarring at me like a 5-year-old child, took a few trying steps and then retreated. Finally, when I convinced this ugly creature that I was, indeed, harmless, he fluttered to me, turned round and round, and touching my boots with his too-long-a-nose-to-be-a-pic snout. From then on, I and he, set out on our journey of friendship. Dear readers, it was absolutely unbelievable and unreasonable during my time as a free laborer at my grandma’s Mourn Farm, a time when one was in want for something modern and refreshing, I had a pig friend named “Angry Plum!”

We spent most of our time wandering among the fields of barley, enjoying the scents from the waves of gold, or lying underneath the jealous sky, indulging the cool breeze from the valley messing up our hair which he had little of anyway. Sometimes when it was raining, I would lean against the fence and listen to the rhythm of the falling rain while he raised up his front feet, put them on the fence just like a human child, and then lift all his weight on his trembling, skinny back feet, as if to demonstrate himself to be a human, and I knew, I knew that I would never ever forget the moment I saw the falling rain reflected in his eyes, which dawned on me that we were the same.

At the same time, I never expected our friendship could only last a few months, the peace went broke when my grandma found Angry Plum missing. I tore into the pigs’ house, only to find the door unlocked, all pigs remained, but Angry Plum. Punishment? Definitely, but I was grateful to receive it as a gift, because I knew Angry Plum was on his adventure of freedom. I had foreseen this fate in his eyes on that rainy day.

Nothing is more delightful than to know your friend is on the go for his dream. Angry Plum, God bless you, buddy!

Farm House Fun With Freshmen Class 2

Received a call Sunday Morning at around 1000 from Mr. Taunis. The Freshmen Class 2 was having a group activity for the Gap Guys and they wanted Sunee and I to attend. They had tried to contact us on Saturday but, of course, we were in Chengdu.

It took us about fifteen minutes to get ready and as we walked toward the West Gate, we met Mr. Taunis and Ms. Sophie who guided us the rest of the way.

The group was meeting at what was translated from the Chinese to mean "Farm House Fun." This was a local farm which the owners had converted to offer the public a place to visit, relax and enjoy the farm atmosphere. It was about a twenty or thirty minute walk from our apartment.

The Way To Farm House Fun

This is the introduction/direction sign that told what the farm house offered and it was at the start of the farm house road.

Instead of farm animals, we found this beat up farm tractor to take pictures on the way to the farm house.

The Farm House

The farm house had been converted to an area which offered several different kinds of activities. Of course, there was Mahjong. This IS China, you know!

The Farm Work

When we arrived, all the students were involved with their farm work. Here, THE CROCCODILE shows why he is call "Croc." Lovely teeth, don't you agree?

Vincent does grilling. Several of the students were grilling the vegetables in preparation for the upcoming farm lunch


Too many chefs spoil the soup. Ok, ok, so this is not soup and these students are not chefs. The grilled veggies were not spoiled either.


Working quickly and in tandem with the supervising eyes of Mr. Taunis, the students efficiently turned out some really great grilled products.

The Farm Training Program

The Farm House offered extensive training in the art of jaodz making. Everyone gathered round to learn this ancient and secret art of China.

Sydney became the designated jaodz instructor

Jaodz training instructor Sydney gives us a lesson in the secret art of making jaodz.

Here Dave destroys another jaodz. He tried to make at least 100 jaodz without too much success. I actually counted three successful jaodz during his training period. Bet he cannot sing either.

Giselle continues to impress all with her elegant method of making jaodz. Notice the stylized use of the famous but difficult to use tool called chopsticks. Elegant indeed!

The finished product. Only about half the students were considered to be successful and only a few of them actually received certificates in jaodz making. The ones who did get their certificates were very proud of their accomplishment.

The Certificate of Training awarded to those students who successfully completed their training. Less than ten percent received this coveted award certificate.

The Farm Food Testing

Prior to the start of the official Farm House Lunch, special students were selected to do the testing of the food. Here Tracy gives us the OK TO EAT sign. She did not show any ill effects from the food so we carried on with the preparations.

Of course, Lemon volunteered to be one of the testers. She was not very good as each veggie took at least four or five tests before she would approve them. She had no ill effects from her tastings so she gave us the green light.

The Farm Lunch

We are all called to lunch at the Farm House. And, I might add, not a minute too soon as Dave was beginning to get on everyone's nerves with his I AM A HUNGRY BRIT renditions. They went on and on until the call to lunch. Several students admitted later that they had discussed plans for Dave's demise prior to us all being called to lunch.

A Farm House Lunch is served. We had three tables and each had a grand feast specially prepared for us by the Farm House staff. They also included our own specially made jaodz. No doubt many of the less successful jaodz makers would easily recognize their handiwork.

The lunch was great and the highlight was the consumption of the jaodz that we had made (or at least tried to make in the case many of the students).

Ms. Yoyo requested her picture be included in this blog. Unfortunately, she was playing the role of host and was popping in and out when I was taking pictures. This is the only picture i was able to take of her. Yoyo stands for: Your only young once. Is that why you have all the energy going all the time?

The Farm Fun

After the brilliant (Dave's word on mine) lunch we were commanded to involve ourselves in the art of Farm House Fun.

Here we have the two Gap Guys having fun with two of the freshmen. They were told they were having fun.

Mahjong is actually fun even though one must work hard to do it right.

John was caught cheating so many times during the afternoon that many of the freshmen were secretly planning his demise. Fortunately, John got tired of cheating after a few hours and went on to the next Farm House Fun - ping pong.

Ms. Sophie's slams were too much for most of the other freshmen. She eventually had to play with herself which turned out not to be much fun for her. Many of her fellow students began to plan her demise but she quickly dispatched all of them with her relentless slams.

Ms. Cherry was much more considerate of other student's feelings, allowing all of them to trounce her easily and often. Here she tries to smack the ball in the Chinese penholder fashion. Of course, she was kind enough not to hit the ball back. There were never plans calling for Ms. Cherry's demise.

Dave's fame as a ping ponger grew with each ball he hit. Not only did he hit the ball with authority but he did not allow himself to be overcome with pity for his frail and weak freshmen opponents. Many of the freshmen began to secretly plan for his demise. These plans fell through as most of those making the plans could not understand Dave's weird British accent.

The true spirit of ping pong as demonstrated by the unrelenting style of Mr. Taunis. His ability to keep the ball in the air astounded us all. Dave and John began to plan for his ultimate demise but Mr. Taunis would have nothing to do with such plans and they eventually failed due to their lack of logical cohesion.

Demonstrating the art of good!

They took pity upon my frailty

Giving them a chance to see

An old man attempting to play

Ping pong in a big, big way.

Nope the large paddle did not help much. Something to do with hand/eye coordination, stoutness and an inability to see the ping pong ball.

Mr. Yao's demise was caused by too many balls and not enough time as we close out this blog and the Farm House Fun time. We all had fun. No one went home disappointed and no one met their ultimate demise.

Welcome University Freshmen (September 18)

We had a special welcoming party for our newly arrived freshmen to the Foreign Language Department. The party was held in the campus hotel not far from our apartment.


During the party, there were lots of people performing or acting as MCs. Here we have two freshmen flanked by two upper classmen. The whole thing was an easy going, semi-organized affair and was fun.


Two of our sophomores entertained us with their violins. Beautiful music coming from two beautiful ladies.



And, of course, our famous twins, Lory and Camir, performed their Chinese classical number. The twins are sophomores and are excellent students from Hebei Province.


Ms. Trysa performed her Tibetan dances with grace and beauty. She really is one of the sweetest and caring students on campus.


How not to play "charades." I am trying to be the winner of eight gold medals. Someone named Phillips.


Mr. Rio, a sophomore, doing his thing whatever that is.


Dean Jiang wanted me to have a Chinese to English interpreter so the interpreter could practice. Here, Julia from our junior class provides a great service. She really is a cutie, isn't she?



Lucy sings and talks and sings and talks. A sophomore, Lucy is one of the stars of the class. Her English is outstanding.


A couple of sophomores dancing their way to fame but no fortune.


Even Lilly was able to sing a few verses to the pleasure of her audience. She is a sophomore and is noted for her ability to play the Ruan, a classical Chinese instrument.


This freshman, Giselle, is rapidly making a name for herself as one of the most talented students on campus. She is good, very good at everything she does.


Mr DJ, the man from Kunming, rocks with the best of them.


Our own Dean Jiang or Dean Harold says a few words to all of us but especially to our new freshmen.


I am not sure, but I think this is Wendy, a freshmen. If it is, then this is a picture of a champion performer from Chengdu. She has been dancing for more than twelve years and has won many competitions.


More dancing from the students.


Here is another freshman, Cecilia (ya gotta love the name). She is from Emei City so she was at home immediately.


The attentive and appreciative audience made things really work.


The final performance was carried out in remembrance of those who lost their lives, homes and possessions in the Sichuan earthquake.